“Uttam kheti, madhyam vyapar, nishkrit chakri, bheekh nidan” goes the ancient proverb: farming is the supreme vocation, mediocre is trade and lowly is service; finally if nothing works beggary is the solution to survival. Agriculture sits atop the pyramid.
"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness," Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the USA had instructed about 200 years ago.
The story of the growth of Indian agriculture is no less than a fairy tale. Not too long ago we were derided as an agriculture “Basket Case”, characterized by perpetual shortages and chronic distress in the agriculture sector. Who in our generation can forget PL-480? A wheat imported under this law from the USA which was “fit enough only for the pigs to eat”, and this too would be in short supply. And now we have reason to thump our chests having emerged as the “Breadbasket” of the world.
The sector may still be beset with imperfections plentiful, the growth rate may still be moderate, access to finance continues to be an issue, markets are yet to mature, technology and other inputs may even now be out of reach of the small farmer; yet it may not be a hyperbole to say that the Indian agriculture is flourishing in the face of multiple challenges. Amidst the difficult working environment and conditions, our farmers have been giving us record harvests, each bettering the previous one. Leave aside the phenomenon of famine, today’s generation won’t even know what food shortage means.
“To enhance productivity and production of agricultural commodities to ensure food security of the Nation and also to make agriculture a sustainable and viable vocation,” states the Vision of the now called Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. No longer confined to production and productivity for food security, it aims at making agriculture a viable vocation. Please note the choice of word; it is vocation not occupation. It implies adoption of agriculture as a profession by choice. The Mission Statement proclaims, “To achieve targeted growth rate for the agriculture sector with the help of State Governments and other Departments of the Government of India by enhancing agriculture production and ensuring farmers welfare by successful implementation of Ministry's schemes.”
The Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) has emerged as an apex organization supporting these efforts by playing the role of a bridge between diverse stakeholders, including the central and state governments. Guided by a board comprising eminent professionals and practitioners, and operated by a team of committed executives, the ICFA is the most prominent think-tank, knowledge repository and policy advocacy institution in the agriculture sector of the country. It enjoys the reputation of being the most credible voice of agriculture seeking to protect the interests of each and every stakeholder.
We seek to strengthen our role as a think tank, national resource center, and global platform for fostering strong partnerships among the varied stakeholder groups in the food and agriculture sectors creating opportunities for trade, technologies, investments, and entrepreneurship in agriculture and the food value chain.
We shall continue to demonstrate, through our programs and activities, unwavering commitment to our stated vision: “Unleashing the potential of India's food and agriculture sector through policies, trade, and partnerships towards empowering farmers and achieving global food and nutrition security and environmental sustainability.”
Dr. Tarun Shridhar, IAS Retd.
Former Secretary,
Animal Husbandry & Dairy,
Government of India
